Instructions
Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Because it’s so easy to judge the idiocy of others, it may be sorely tempting to think this doesn’t apply to you. But the problem of unrecognized ignorance is one that visits us all. And over the years, I’ve become convinced of one key, overarching fact about the ignorant mind. One should not think of it as uninformed. Rather, one should think of it as misinformed.
An ignorant mind is precisely not a spotless, empty vessel, but one that’s filled with the clutter of irrelevant or misleading life experiences, theories, facts, intuitions, strategies, algorithms, heuristics, metaphors, and hunches that regrettably have the look and feel of useful and accurate knowledge. This clutter is an unfortunate by-product of one of our greatest strengths as a species. We are unbridled pattern recognizers and profligate theorizers. Often, our theories are good enough to get us through the day, or at least to an age when we can procreate. But our genius for creative storytelling, combined with our inability to detect our own ignorance, can sometimes lead to situations that are embarrassing, unfortunate, or downright dangerous—especially in a technologically advanced, complex democratic society that occasionally invests mistaken popular beliefs with immense destructive power. As the humorist Josh Billings once put it, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” (Ironically, one thing many people “know” about this quote is that it was first uttered by Mark Twain or Will Rogers—which just ain’t so.)
Because of the way we are built, and because of the way we learn from our environment, we are all engines of misbelief. And the better we understand how our wonderful yet kludge-ridden, Rube Goldberg engine works, the better we—as individuals and as a society—can harness it to navigate toward a more objective understanding of the truth.
Because it’s so easy to judge the idiocy of others, it may be sorely tempting to think this doesn’t apply to you. But the problem of unrecognized ignorance is one that visits us all. And over the years, I’ve become convinced of one key, overarching fact about the ignorant mind. One should not think of it as uninformed. Rather, one should think of it as misinformed.
An ignorant mind is precisely not a spotless, empty vessel, but one that’s filled with the clutter of irrelevant or misleading life experiences, theories, facts, intuitions, strategies, algorithms, heuristics, metaphors, and hunches that regrettably have the look and feel of useful and accurate knowledge. This clutter is an unfortunate by-product of one of our greatest strengths as a species. We are unbridled pattern recognizers and profligate theorizers. Often, our theories are good enough to get us through the day, or at least to an age when we can procreate. But our genius for creative storytelling, combined with our inability to detect our own ignorance, can sometimes lead to situations that are embarrassing, unfortunate, or downright dangerous—especially in a technologically advanced, complex democratic society that occasionally invests mistaken popular beliefs with immense destructive power. As the humorist Josh Billings once put it, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” (Ironically, one thing many people “know” about this quote is that it was first uttered by Mark Twain or Will Rogers—which just ain’t so.)
Because of the way we are built, and because of the way we learn from our environment, we are all engines of misbelief. And the better we understand how our wonderful yet kludge-ridden, Rube Goldberg engine works, the better we—as individuals and as a society—can harness it to navigate toward a more objective understanding of the truth.
Question 21.
Which of the following statement is NOT true about an ignorant mind?
A
An ignorant mind is often filled with unfounded and misguided distractions.
B
An ignorant mind succumbs to illusionary pattern detection.
C
An ignorant mind theorizes without robust evidence.
D
An ignorant mind is unaware of its own limitations.
Question Explanation
Text Explanation
Option E is the correct answer.
According to the passage, this statement is not true about an ignorant mind. The passage describes how an ignorant mind is filled with clutter of irrelevant or misleading experiences, theories, facts, etc., and it emphasizes the tendency of the ignorant mind to be unaware of its own limitations and to succumb to illusionary pattern detection and theorizing without robust evidence. However, it doesn't suggest that an ignorant mind often fuels scepticism. Instead, it suggests that the clutter in the ignorant mind can lead to situations that are embarrassing, unfortunate, or dangerous.
Options A, B, C and D could be inferred from the passage and hence true.Video Explanation
Option E is the correct answer.
According to the passage, this statement is not true about an ignorant mind. The passage describes how an ignorant mind is filled with clutter of irrelevant or misleading experiences, theories, facts, etc., and it emphasizes the tendency of the ignorant mind to be unaware of its own limitations and to succumb to illusionary pattern detection and theorizing without robust evidence. However, it doesn't suggest that an ignorant mind often fuels scepticism. Instead, it suggests that the clutter in the ignorant mind can lead to situations that are embarrassing, unfortunate, or dangerous.
Options A, B, C and D could be inferred from the passage and hence true.
No video explanation yet — we're on it and uploading soon!
Master CAT Preparation with Previous Year Papers
Practicing CAT previous year papers is one of the most effective strategies for CAT exam preparation. By solving questions from CAT 2024 valr-slot-1 and other previous years, you can understand the exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked in the Common Admission Test.
Why Practice CAT Previous Year Questions?
- Understand Exam Pattern: CAT previous papers help you familiarize yourself with the question format, marking scheme, and time management required for the actual exam.
- Identify Important Topics: By analyzing CAT solved questions from multiple years, you can identify frequently asked topics and focus your preparation accordingly.
- Improve Speed and Accuracy: Regular practice of CAT previous year papers enhances your problem-solving speed and accuracy, which are crucial for scoring well in the exam.
- Build Confidence: Solving CAT previous year questions builds confidence and reduces exam anxiety by making you comfortable with the exam format.
How to Use CAT Previous Papers Effectively
- Solve Under Exam Conditions: Attempt CAT previous year papers in a timed environment to simulate the actual exam experience.
- Analyze Your Performance: After solving each CAT previous paper, analyze your mistakes and identify areas that need improvement.
- Review Solutions Thoroughly: Study the detailed solutions and explanations provided for each question to understand the correct approach and methodology.
- Focus on Weak Areas: Use CAT solved questions to identify your weak areas and dedicate more time to improving them.
CAT Exam Sections Covered
Our comprehensive collection of CAT previous papers covers all three sections of the exam:
- VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): Practice reading comprehension passages, para jumbles, and other verbal ability questions from CAT previous years.
- DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): Master DI and LR questions with detailed solutions from CAT previous year papers.
- QA (Quantitative Ability): Solve arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and other quantitative ability questions from CAT solved papers.
Additional CAT Preparation Resources
Looking for more CAT preparation materials? Explore our comprehensive collection of:
- CAT Previous Papers Archive - Access questions from multiple years and slots
- CAT 2024 valr-slot-1 Solved Solutions - Complete slot-wise solutions with explanations
- CAT Preparation Courses - Enroll in structured courses for comprehensive CAT preparation
Note: Regular practice of CAT previous year papers, combined with a structured study plan, is essential for achieving a high percentile in the CAT exam. Make sure to solve questions from all sections and review the solutions thoroughly to maximize your preparation effectiveness.
